36 Cranberry Sauce Recipes [Gluten Free & More]

Thumbprint cookies are a holiday classic! 

These flakey and buttery cookies are set apart by a dollop of fresh tangy cranberry sauce. The light frosting on top of the cranberry sets this cookie apart and makes them a unique treat. 

If the almond glaze is not your favorite you can swap out a light lemon zest on top instead.

These cookies freeze well. Go ahead and make these with your leftover cranberry sauce then freeze and use them whenever you need a sweet treat.

The author of this recipe recommends using your leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce for Christmas cookies.

I love these cookie bars and I thought they make the perfect holiday treat. I liked the sweet and tart cranberry notes.

Make these cookies to add a splash of red to your Christmas cookie platters this holiday season!

These bars fall into the cookie bar category. I served these as a part of a cookie platter for New Year’s Eve dessert– and wow!  

The cranberry sauce had been sitting in my fridge for the week between Christmas and New Year so I made these bars with the leftover cranberry sauce.

The best thing about these cookie bars is that the cranberries have a tart element that elevates this cookie. 

Not your typical kid’s treat– the adults in the room love these cookies because of the tart cranberry filling.

I think that I loved this recipe because of its name. Cruffins are just so stinking fun to say! 

This was a great recipe for getting the kids involved. I served these alongside a roasted chicken dinner a few days after Thanksgiving. 

This recipe was so easy that I will definitely make it again. Cranberry flavors and crescent rolls are a festive side dish that everyone will love.

Scones can be dry–but this recipe is definitely not dry. 

If you prefer a moist scone then you will love this recipe. 

The author of this recipe recommends serving with whipped cream and fresh tea. I served ours with vanilla yogurt and scrambled eggs. 

I would absolutely make this recipe again. My kids love scones and I all loved how moist this recipe was.

They weren’t kidding around when they named these the best cranberry sauce muffins. 

Muffins are a favorite in my house. These muffins are a blend of sweet cranberry flavors and moist muffin textures.

I love the simplicity of this recipe and the way the muffins filled my house with warm cranberry smells.

If you love lemons then you will love this recipe! 

My family loves muffins so this one was an instant hit. I had extra muffins so I froze the leftovers and defrosted them when I needed a fast and easy breakfast for my kids. 

Sweet cranberry with tart lemon makes this recipe a must-try!

Here is a recipe that is perfect for the fall. 

Creamy cream cheese and tart cranberry sauce will blend together perfectly for a sweet and moist bread that can be served as a breakfast food or an after-meal sweet treat.

 If you prefer a bit more zing and complexity then I suggest adding a bit of lemon zest to your recipe.

This bread will freeze Ill, so make a double batch and pull out the leftovers whenever you need a homemade treat in a hurry!

Who doesn’t love banana bread? 

I served this bread for breakfast with a smear of cream cheese and a drizzle of honey. To be honest– it didn’t need my extras because this cranberry and banana bread was delicious on its own!

This bread tastes the way you would expect it to. Sweet banana bread with a hint of tart cranberry sauce.

I cannot believe that I did not think of this recipe sooner! 

Grilled cheese with turkey and cranberry sauce is a family-friendly way to use a smidge of that leftover cranberry sauce that always seems to be hanging around during the holiday season.

These leftover sandwiches are the perfect day after Thanksgiving lunchtime meal that the whole family will enjoy. I used a blend of cheddar and pepper jack cheeses for this recipe.

Who doesn’t love an opportunity to use their panini press?

 I have an old fashion panini press that was gifted to me years ago. Anytime I make a panini my husband gets very excited. 

Something about warm and crusty toasted bread on a chilly day that just warms the soul.

This sandwich gets all of its flair from a homemade cranberry mayonnaise spread. Salt and pepper on your turkey will kick up the flavors a notch as well.

I really liked this wrap because wraps always feel lighter than sandwiches and this is one time of year when it feels good to eat something light. 

I made these wraps as make-ahead lunches for my husband to take to work. The reviews were positive.

I jazzed up this recipe by using green basil tortillas. You can swap in any flavor of tortilla that you like if you want to jazz up this recipe too.

Out of all of the recipes I tried for this crazy project I would say this was one of my favorite lunch recipes. 

The pairing of thyme and goat cheese with cranberry sauce really knocked it out of the park on this one. This dish is best served hot– so make and enjoy this one at home.

Kids (and husbands) just love Hawaiian rolls. With that in mind you really can’t ever go wrong when making sliders.

Turkey and cranberry sliders are the easiest day after Thanksgiving meal you can possibly make. I will have to remember this one for next year.

Sweet Hawaiian bread with tart cranberry sauce are the stars of the flavor shown in these sliders.

Can I please talk about cranberry dip for a moment? 

This dip was an absolute delight. I can’t believe I haven’t been serving this dip my entire life. 

The color was stunning and the flavor of the sweet dip paired well with rye crackers. I served this with an assortment of crackers–but the rye crackers seemed to be the favorite. 

Top with dip with chopped scallions for an extra crisp texture on top.

Cranberry and brie is a classic combination of flavors. I loved this recipe for its simplicity. 

I elevated these delightful little bites by adding a sprinkling of fresh rosemary sprigs on top.

 The red of the cranberry and the green from the rosemary made this a visual delight as well as a tasty treat for my guests. Serve these as a warm appetizer at your next holiday gathering.

Just like the cruffins this was so easy that I just couldn’t pass it up. I love teaching my kids about cooking and there is something about ready-to-bake dough that kids find irresistible. 

The flavors here come from buttery crescent rolls, tart cranberry sauce, and a sweet homemade glave for the top.

I am going to be so totally honest with you when I say that I did not expect to like this dish as much as I did. 

I thought the idea of a warm cheddar and cranberry dip was strange. Nonetheless– I tried this dip and everyone loved it! 

Cheddar cheese and fruit is a classic combination and this dish will remind you why.

Serve this on a chilly game day in the fall and all of the football fans in the house will be pleased! 

Warm, cheesy, and gooey are always game-day crowd favorites. Next time you serve the fans, serve them this warm and surprising dip.

Fall is a busy time of year. Everyone is settled into school and sports which is why I all need more slow cooker recipes in the fall. 

This chicken was moist and tender thanks to all that cranberry sauce. The flavors of this dish are tart, tangy, savory, and salty in all the best ways.

This was a simple meal with complex flavors. Try adding a hint of rosemary into your recipe.

I included this recipe in my list of healthy breakfast foods, but these bars can be so much more than just breakfast food!

 I served these in my kids’ school lunch boxes. My kids go to a nut-free school, so I skipped the pecans and I didn’t even miss them!

If you are like me and you prefer a healthier dessert, then these will work as an after-meal treat too.

The flavors of these bars are a blend of sweet and tart with a satisfying chew from the granola.

If you are on a low-carb or keto diet, you will love this salad. 

I don’t follow strict dieting rules, but I do try to eat healthily, so I was happy to find a recipe for a salad that calls for leftover cranberry sauce.

I used this salad for pack-ahead lunches. The salad held up Ill and I all enjoyed a healthy lunch. This tastes like a chicken salad but with a distinctly fall flair from the turkey and cranberries.

I am so glad I found this recipe! 

I had never thought of making flatbreads with Thanksgiving leftovers before! I really loved the simplicity of this recipe and my kids loved it too, which is always a big win.

Sweet and tangy cranberry sauce with creamy herb cheese is the star of the flavor explosion in this recipe.

Goat cheese quesadillas are a brilliant idea! I served these for an elevated post-holiday lunch. 

Warm goat cheese and cranberry sauce are a match made in heaven. This recipe was so good and so easy that I will definitely be making this one again!

If you haven’t tried overnight oats yet then you are definitely missing out! 

Overnight oats are the simplest breakfast. My husband loves a healthy breakfast and I love a good morning hack. Overnight oats allow you to prepare a healthy breakfast the night before.

I love overnight oats in the summertime because the chilled oats are cool, satisfying, and a filling way to start a summer morning. 

I hike, bike and adventure daily in the summertime. These cranberry overnight oats gave me all the energy I needed for a day filled with adventures. 

Bundt cakes are gorgeous and they deserve to be the next major food trend. If you want to serve your guests a cake that is both delicious and visually pleasing then look no further than this cranberry swirl bundt cake.

I loved the tangy cranberry sauce against the sweetness of the frosting swirled across the top of this delightful little cake. 

Perfect for holiday parties I paired this cake with hot tea and served it as an after-meal treat. 

I made this leftover cranberry sauce coffee cake for a day after Thanksgiving continental breakfast.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of ski season in the Eastern Sierra so I am always looking for ways to use my leftovers that can easily be transported to the warming hut and eaten between ski runs. 

Our guests said this coffee cake was the perfect addition to their coffee between ski runs. The cranberry in this recipe helped keep the nostalgic flavors of Thanksgiving going all weekend long.

Just like the cranberry upside-down cake but with pineapple! 

Pineapple and cranberry are fabulous pairings! This cake made us feel like I’m celebrating the holiday season in Hawaii. 

If you happen to get a fresh pineapple this Christmas season, please try this recipe! 

The pineapple and cranberry on the bottom of the pan will create a sweet crust for the top of your cake. Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream for your next holiday dessert.

This gorgeous bundt cake tastes like a slice of fall! And your house will smell like a slice of fall too! Cranberries, pecans, and apples blend together to make a cake that is sweet and delicious. 

Be sure to serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and a side of hot mulled wine. Your guests will feel like they are a part of a holiday season from long ago.

This recipe calls for a bag of frozen cranberries. I swapped the frozen cranberries for cranberry sauce. The orange and cranberry custard was sweet, tangy, and tart all at once.

I love this pic because it was so visually appealing. Take your time preparing the pie crust leaves so you can serve a show worthy pie as well.

Crustless cranberry pie is as easy as bump cake. The white cake mixes with the cranberry sauce to create a simple cranberry cake.

I love this dish for its simplicity and ease of preparation. My second favorite thing about this cake was the color. Cranberry sauce and white cake created a burgundy and white swirl.

Up-side down cake is a visual delight! This traditional dessert is cooked by placing the cranberry sauce at the bottom of the pan and layering the cake on top. Use a plate to flip the final product for serving. The cranberries will caramelize on the bottom of the pan and create a tart and crisp top for your cake. 

Baked pancakes are a busy mom’s dream breakfast! This recipe is a fast and easy crowd-pleaser. My kids love pancakes and I love using my leftover cranberry sauce so this one is a win-win.

The sIetness and moisture from the cranberry sauce mean this breakfast doesn’t need any maple syrup. I served this with plain vanilla yogurt. The yogurt was the perfect lite topping for this hearty pancake breakfast.

Out of all of the recipes on this list– this one is my favorite. Chicken with rosemary and cranberry sauce is a shining example of chicken prepared with savory stone fruit.

I loved this recipe because it was simple, filling, and gluten-free. I served this chicken with roasted potatoes and vegetables. The cranberry pan sauce for this chicken is best showcased with a side of potatoes. Your guests will be delighted by every scrumptious drop of sauce so don’t let any go to waste!

This recipe hit all the major points for me: protein-packed, easy, gluten-free, and kid-friendly! Cranberry barbecue sauce meatballs are perfect for game-day or a quick and easy holiday appetizer.

I served these meatballs with small toothpicks and a side of mashed potatoes for an easy dinner. You could also serve with sIet rolls for a quick and easy slider.

I really liked this recipe because I coated the outside of a pork loin with chunky homemade cranberry sauce and baked the whole thing until it was moist and cooked through.

I sliced the leftovers very thin and served them on fall-themed sandwiches for an extra leftover meal.

If you have a loved one that is gluten-free then try making them these delightful little cranberry muffins when the holidays arrive.

These muffins are packed with flavor. Cinnamon, sugar, cranberry sauce, and buttermilk make these muffins sweet and moist. You won’t even know these muffins are gluten-free!

These muffins freeze well so bake ahead and use them for a quick and easy breakfast in the winter months.